Are Tarrant County Divorce Records Public?

Yes, Tarrant County divorce records are public. The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) mandates public access to Tarrant County divorce records and other government documents in the possession of custodian agencies. Also, the Texas Family Code and the federal Privacy Protection Act of 1974 govern the accessibility of divorce records in Texas.

Public accessibility of Tarrant County divorce records is not all-encompassing. The public can only access divorce information that does not violate privacy or constitutional rights. For security and privacy reasons, custodian agencies will redact divorce information if it relates to:

• Minors
• Social Security Numbers
• Financial details
• Domestic violence or protective orders
• Property division.

Also,the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office may deny access to divorce records if the courts issue sealing orders to restrict public disclosure.

Access to non-public Tarrant County divorce records requires authorization or judicial orders.

Who Can Access Tarrant County Divorce Records?

Any interested individuals can request and obtain copies of Tarrant County's publicly accessible divorce records. These documents are accessible to:

• The public (under certain conditions)
• Owners of the records
• Attorneys and legal representatives of the involved parties
• Entities with legal interests
• Genealogical researchers.

Generally, publicly accessible Tarrant County divorce records information includes:

• Names of the involved parties
• Petitions for divorce
• Case numbers
• Filing dates
• Case status
• Temporary orders (if applicable)
• Final judgments
• Motions and Filings
• Proof of services
• Settlement agreements (if the courts do not restrict access).

However, the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office will redact information relating to minor children, financial details, Social Security Numbers, and domestic violence and abuse. Non-legally authorized individuals seeking full access to Tarrant County divorce records must obtain court orders.

Individuals seeking to confirm qualifications for full access to Tarrant County divorce records should gather the necessary documents (this includes government-issued identifications, attorney credentials, and court orders) and submit formal requests through the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office at:

The Tim Curry Justice Center
401 W. Belknap Street,
Fort Worth,
Texas 76196.

Do I Need to State My Purpose and Use When Requesting Divorce Records in Tarrant County?

No, requesters do not need to state the purpose of requesting Tarrant County divorce records. However, access to non-public information requires eligibility and record seekers must prove eligibility to access them (this may require inquirers to state the reasons for access). Also, federal and Texas laws mandate lawful uses of divorce records (including those of Tarrant County). For instance, requesters may use Tarrant County divorce records for legal purposes, as research materials, or for personal information.

How do you Request Divorce Records in Tarrant County?

In Tarrant County, the District Clerk's Office is the custodian of divorce records. Interested individuals can request access to divorce records through the Tarrant County District Clerk's Web Based Access Service (this may require subscriptions). Alternatively, visit, mail (this should include a self-addressed envelope and valid email address), or send email requests to the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office at:

Att. Records
200 E. Weatherford Street,
Fort Worth,
Texas 76196
Email: tcdcrecords@tarrantcountytx.gov.

The public should note that personal checks are unacceptable. Requesters can pay cash (for in-person requests) or credit cards (online) or money orders (mail).

What Information is Included in a Tarrant County Divorce Record?

Divorce records outline the terms of the dissolution of marriages. A typical Tarrant County public divorce record contains the following:

• Basic divorce information such as case number, names of the divorced spouses, petition for separation, and filing date
• Proof of service
• Trial transcript
• Property division
• Child custody and visitation agreement (if applicable)
• Spousal support
• Court name and location.

Requesters should note that not all Tarrant County divorce information is publicly disclosable. The Tarrant County District Clerk's Office will redact divorce information relating to child custody agreements, Social Security Numbers, financial details, and information relating to domestic violence and abuse.

Fees for Accessing Tarrant County Divorce Records

The following charges apply to accessing Tarrant County divorce records.

Online requests through the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office Web-Based Access Service

• Non-certified electronic copies - $1.00 for the first 10 pages and 10¢ per page for subsequent copies
• Certified electronic copies - $1.00 for 1 to 10 pages, 10¢ per subsequent copies, and a $5.00 certification fee

Mail, email, or in-person requests to the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office:

• Certified copies - cost $1.00 per page, $5.00 certification fees, and an extra $5.00 if the requester does provide the case number.

The Tarrant County District Clerk's Office does not accept personal checks. All payments should be by cash (for in-person requests), money orders, and credit cards.

Veterans, senior citizens, and low-income earners who cannot pay applicable fees for copies of Tarrant County divorce records should download, fill out, and submit Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs forms for waivers or fee reductions.

How Long Does It Take to Obtain Divorce Records in Tarrant County?

How long it takes to deliver divorce records requests in Tarrant County after a request depends on several factors. These include the location of the documents (older files may be stored off-site), the volume of requests (for instance, there may be a high number of requests during tax season), incomplete/incorrect information, and the request method.

Online requests through the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office Web-Based Access Service offer instant download for non-certified copies of documents, but it may take 2 to 5 days to receive certified copies through the mail.

In-person requests at the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office may be available the same day but may take longer to process if the documents are off-site or the request is for a large volume of files.

The timeline for the delivery of mail requests ranges between 7 and 10 business days. However, although the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office does not advertise expedited delivery, requesters can include prepaid self-addressed envelopes from any express mail service for faster delivery.

Can I Request Divorce Records Online in Tarrant County?

Yes, interested individuals can request copies of Tarrant County divorce records online. The Tarrant County District Clerk's Office offers online access to divorce records through its Web-based Access Service.

Also, Tarrant County divorce records may be accessible through third-party platforms such as Texascourtrecords.us or other private websites. However, users should be cautious when using non-government websites as document sources; these platforms are independent, and there are no guarantees on the accuracy of their information.

Are There Any Exceptions to Accessing Tarrant County Divorce Records?

Yes, there are limitations to accessing divorce records in Tarrant County divorce. Although Texas law grants public access to Tarrant County divorce records, there are exceptions to access to some information. Individuals without legitimate interests cannot access sealed Tarrant County divorce records or access information relating to minor children of the divorced parties, final account details, Social Security Numbers, ongoing legal proceedings, protective orders, and domestic violence and abuse.

Requesters seeking access to non-public divorce records in Tarrant County must do so through the courts.